Accordion

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT ACCORDION - PAGE 2

by DAVE HOWELL (A free-lance story for The Morning Call) | February 21, 1998

Zydeco, the accordion-based rural music of Louisiana, might not seem to combine well with the urban rhythms of funk. But in the hands of Li'l Brian & The Zydeco Travelers, they mixed like red beans and rice. Last Saturday night at the Ice House on Bethlehem's Sand Island, Brian Terry showed 150 people that his "Z-Funk" -- a hybrid of zydeco, funk, R&B, rock, blues and hip-hop -- works as high-energy dance music. Terry sang and played accordion as his brother, Kenneth, worked the traditional zydeco rubboard.

Take one old favorite polka, heap on piles of fresh musical condiments, season with sizzling energy and style, and you've got the kind of music served up last night by Lenny Gomulka and the Chicago Push at the Allentown Fair. Gomulka's recipe for polka potpourri has a distinctly Polish flavor, a bit zestier perhaps than the German and Austrian music Lehigh Valley polka fans are used to consuming. But judging from the reception Chicago Push and other Polish bands are getting lately around here, this style may show on future menus more often.

Francis and Margaret (Kochan) Petrak of Allentown celebrated their golden anniversary Sept. 13 at a surprise party at Magnolia's Vineyard, Orefield. The celebration continued at the home of their son and daughter-in-law, David and Lynn Petrak of Allentown. Mr. and Mrs. Petrak are also parents of daughters, Rosemary Gore of Allentown, Annamarie McMinn of Lancaster and Laura Wagner of Tucson, Ariz. There are four grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Petrak, who marked their anniversary Sept. 16, were married in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Baltimore, Md. Petrak retired from Air Products and Chemicals Inc. after 30 years of employment.

Kate and Anna McGarrigle were their normal, natural, charming selves during Tuesday's late show at Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem. They laughed off minor mistakes, played delicately, and sang knowingly of love, that "minor chord" and "mental ward." This was a bygone parlor performance, with much switching of instruments and small talk. After the second tune, "Going Back to Harlan," a reverie of folk-song odds and ends, Anna took her sweet time changing from accordion to guitar. "We're going into the 21st century and you feel ill-prepared?"

John and Heide Brubaker dance to the lively accordion music of Al Marhefka during a community block party of Catasauqua's `DIG-IN,' a newly formed organization of residents whose mission is to make the borough a better place to live. The group meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in Borough Hall. Funds from yesterday's event are earmarked for specially designed pennants that will be hung at the six entrances to the community. People interested in joining DIG-IN can call 264-9454.

Thomas J. MacDonald, 82, formerly of 129 E. Broad St., Bethlehem, died Thursday in Gracedale, Upper Nazareth Township. He was the husband of the late Helen (Salko) MacDonald. He worked for the former Sheltered Workshop for the Blind, Bethlehem, for many years. Born in Philadelphia, he was a son of the late George and Maggie (Malloney) MacDonald. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Bethlehem. He was a well-known pianist in the Lehigh Valley. He also played the accordion.

Sharing music with others, seeing them keeping time to the beat, and smiling is what keeps Betty Clark of Easton involved in volunteer work. A member of the Easton Chapter of American Association of Retired Persons, she visits the Eastwood Convalescent Home, Wilson, about two times a month to entertain residents with her piano and accordion playing. Residents who are able to come to the recreation room join in a sing-along as Mrs. Clark plays the piano. Recently, she donated a crocheted cover for the back of the little spinet, so residents can see bright tulips instead of just the back of the piano while Mrs. Clark performs.

German food and German beer abound this weekend at St. Peter's 12th Annual Oktoberfest at the Schnecksville Fire Company Pavilion, Route 309, Schnecksville. Bring your folding chair, grab some Krautwickeln and Kripfels, and let tomorrow's live entertainment by the Johnny Dee Orchestra -- or Joe Weber's Orchestra on Sunday -- help to wash it all down. Special children's games and an arts and crafts fair add to the merriment, with live button box accordion music featured from 12:30-2:30 p.m. both days.

by DAVE HOWELL (A free-lance story for The Morning Call) | August 3, 1997

Over the years Musikfest acts have shown the versatility of the accordion, both in polka and Louisiana-based zydeco music. This year, John Whelan will showcase the instrument with his Celtic-based sound. Whelan believes that Celtic music has become increasingly popular in the United States. He said that he hopes to contribute to this trend by "bringing people outside of Irish music into the fold." He seems to be doing his part. His 1997 Narada disc, "Celtic Crossroads," reached No. 8 on the Billboard world music chart.

Above, at East Penn School District's International Fair to celebrate the community's diversity at Emmaus High School Saturday, Gregory Schrantz, 7, of Allentown lines up for the Ukrainian welcome dance. At right, Natalie Schrantz, 4, checks her costume beads, as Kaitlyn Zimmerman, 7, of Coopersburg (center) and Tessa Dorr, 6, of Maxatawny watch. Below, Marysa Milinichik, 11, of Whitehall Township carries a loaf of bread, signaling the start of the "Privit,' or welcome dance, while Walt Milinichik plays the accordion.